What to do in Madrid

Madrid pairs urban outdoor activities with immediate access to the Sierra de Guadarrama, home to peaks such as Peñalara (2,430 m) and La Maliciosa (2,227 m). Within an hour from the city centre you can reach hiking routes across La Pedriza, climbing at Patones de Arriba and via ferrata at Manzanares el Real. The Parque Regional de la Cuenca Alta del Manzanares protects 46,000 ha of granite landscapes and pine forests that also host mountain biking and canyoning. The main season runs from April to October; July and August feel warm in the city but remain cool above 1,500 m. Access to the Sierra from Madrid is straightforward via the A-6 and A-1 motorways, with frequent public buses from Moncloa to Manzanares el Real. In winter, Puerto de Navacerrada (1,860 m) opens snowshoe trails and cross-country skiing circuits.